School Year 2018-2019 - Parents of kindergarten students who are interested in placing their child in a dual language classroom can still submit a Dual Language Interest Form. Kindergarten students can be placed in the program throughout the school year. Placement will be based on space availability. Click on the online SY2018-2019 interest form.

Bilingual and biliterate students developing their skills for this global society

What is Dual Language?

The Dual Language Program is a form of bilingual education in which students are taught literacy and academic content in two languages. It offers a unique opportunity for students to excel academically and learn a second language. Dual language programs foster:

bilingualism

bi-literacy

enhanced awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity

high levels of academic achievement through instruction in two languages

What are the benefits of the Dual Language program for students?

Students develop proficiency in two languages.

Students perform as well as or better than their peers in non-dual language classrooms.

All students develop a positive sense of self and multicultural competencies.

Students also develop intercultural and global competence that prepares them to succeed in today’s increasingly competitive global society.

80:20 Spanish/English Dual Language in U-46

The U-46 Dual Language Program mirrors and honors the linguistic and cultural diversity of our learning community. In our 80:20 Dual Language Program Model design, students learn school subjects through both English and Spanish instruction. Students are able to develop high levels of academic and language proficiency in their first and second languages.

The curricula implemented in the dual language classrooms are School District U-46’s adopted curricula and are taught through scaffolding and interactive approaches, which ensure that children learn the academic content while developing their first and second languages.

Language allocation by grade level

Elementary Schools

Middle Schools

High Schools

The U-46 80:20 Dual Language Program model serves Spanish-speaking English Learners in grades PreK through eighth in 33 elementary schools, which have the ELL Program, including the two Early Learners Centers, and five middle schools. Starting in 2018-2019, the DL Program is explanding to all 5 high schools. Students need to have met ISBE’s eligibility criteria to receive English Language Learners’ (ELL) services in Spanish according to the Illinois Administrative School Code 228.

In addition, Native-English speakers and English-dominant students are invited to participate in the Two-Way (TW) Dual Language Programs as an enrichment program at twenty-one (21) of the thirty (30) elementary schools that currently have the ELL Program in Spanish